Getting to know Devon Levi

[K-9]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

The lesson to be learned by the TM tenure is to be judicious with your assets and wisely utilize them. That wasn't a trademark of his tenure that looked for a quick fix. There are a number of avenues to upgrade a roster. Foreclosing or limiting any one of them due to fear of previous failings is the wrong lesson to be learned. What is evident with this regime under KA is that this franchise is not going to act out of desperation or expediency. That was evident by the way KA handled the Jack Eichel situation. He bided his time and waited until a reasonable deal materialized, and then he made the transaction. Taking steps to move forward is better than standing in place when the destination is still some distance away. 

Murray spending assets to accelerate the rebuild was not the problem. The problem was the specific players he spent those assets on and the damage those players inflicted both on and off the ice, in and out of the locker room. 

[JohnC]

18 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Murray spending assets to accelerate the rebuild was not the problem. The problem was the specific players he spent those assets on and the damage those players inflicted both on and off the ice, in and out of the locker room. 

I agree with your comment. Giving up assets for the wrong players was a mistake. 

[Flashsabre]

Is this the Devon Levi thread or the The Rehash the same stupid arguments from 6 years ago thread?

Have a feeling Levi is going to take the Power at the WHC last year route. Start as depth but be the go to guy by the end.

[dudacek]

32 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Is this the Devon Levi thread or the The Rehash the same stupid arguments from 6 years ago thread?

Have a feeling Levi is going to take the Power at the WHC last year route. Start as depth but be the go to guy by the end.

It's going to be his coming out party.

[Derrico]

17 hours ago, dudacek said:

It's going to be his coming out party.

God I hope so. We deserve nice things too!!

[Flashsabre]

https://www.tsn.ca/levi-s-improbable-journey-set-to-continue-at-olympics-an-underdog-his-whole-life-1.1752962

Awesome article. I love how his college and junior coaches aren’t “What an honour for him to just be considered for the team”. No they are “ I guarantee you 150% he will be the starter, best player and lead Canada to Gold”.

[dudacek]

It's crazy this kid doesn't get more hype.

• 34-2-1 with a .941 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA in his last junior season
• 6-1-0 with a .964 save percentage and a 0.75 GAA in the world juniors
• 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage and a 1.55 GAA in his 1st college season
• 20 shutouts in his last 68 games.

Numbers aren't everything and it is often easy to look past them, especially with goalies.

But look at those numbers. At three different levels.

Nobody does that. At any level

[Sabres Fan in NS]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

It's crazy this kid doesn't get more hype.

• 34-2-1 with a .941 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA in his last junior season
• 6-1-0 with a .964 save percentage and a 0.75 GAA in the world juniors
• 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage and a 1.55 GAA in his 1st college season
• 20 shutouts in his last 68 games.

Numbers aren't everything and it is often easy to look past them, especially with goalies.

But look at those numbers. At three different levels.

Nobody does that. At any level

It really seems like he is going to be something.  Will it transfer to the NHL?  We shall see.

Florida must have been very reluctant to include him in that trade.  Good job KA and the scouting staff.

[Zamboni]

I think Levi is getting a ton of hype. Deservedly.

 

 

[dudacek]

5 minutes ago, Zamboni said:

I think Levi is getting a ton of hype. Deservedly.

 

 

 

Yeah, but it's me driving that bus, and who listens to me? 😁

[PASabreFan]

You dus a brive better than anyone.

God, I miss Jackie Gleason. Lots of great nights spent with Ophelia and the children.

[Eleven]

46 minutes ago, dudacek said:

It's crazy this kid doesn't get more hype.

• 34-2-1 with a .941 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA in his last junior season
• 6-1-0 with a .964 save percentage and a 0.75 GAA in the world juniors
• 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage and a 1.55 GAA in his 1st college season
• 20 shutouts in his last 68 games.

Numbers aren't everything and it is often easy to look past them, especially with goalies.

But look at those numbers. At three different levels.

Nobody does that. At any level

He should be in Buffalo and not Rochester next year.  UPL can back him up.

[French Collection]

I have been on the Levi train since the Reinhart trade. I don’t want to have sky high expectations but I think he will be a Buffalo Sabres goalie in the near future.

This Olympics will be interesting to watch. He will be going against some pros for the first time. None of these guys are NHL calibre but there are many experienced pros.

Two lines from the article that I love are, he’s been an underdog his whole life and that he’s the best teammate in the dressing room.

Luongo fought to draft him and Montreal area NHLers that played summer hockey with him rave about his skill.

Go Levi and Team Canada.

[Taro T]

7 minutes ago, Eleven said:

He should be in Buffalo and not Rochester next year.  UPL can back him up.

IF he shows well after NorthEastern's season is done, maybe.  It would be the absolute best case scenario which is why there's a real chance that is way too optimistic.

Regardless of who is in Buffalo next year, want Adams to find someone that puts UPL in the backup role heading into camp.  Scary part of having Levi as that guy is there's a real possibility that UPL would back into the starting role in that circumstance.  Not opposed to having UPL be the #1, but need to have him earn that & not simply have it handed to him.

[dudacek]

5 minutes ago, Taro T said:

IF he shows well after NorthEastern's season is done, maybe.  It would be the absolute best case scenario which is why there's a real chance that is way too optimistic.

Regardless of who is in Buffalo next year, want Adams to find someone that puts UPL in the backup role heading into camp.  Scary part of having Levi as that guy is there's a real possibility that UPL would back into the starting role in that circumstance.  Not opposed to having UPL be the #1, but need to have him earn that & not simply have it handed to him.

The play and the availability of Anderson and UPL down the stretch is really important to this summer's decision-making process.

[Eleven]

13 minutes ago, Taro T said:

IF he shows well after NorthEastern's season is done, maybe.  It would be the absolute best case scenario which is why there's a real chance that is way too optimistic.

Regardless of who is in Buffalo next year, want Adams to find someone that puts UPL in the backup role heading into camp.  Scary part of having Levi as that guy is there's a real possibility that UPL would back into the starting role in that circumstance.  Not opposed to having UPL be the #1, but need to have him earn that & not simply have it handed to him.

Levi's numbers are better than Price's.  Montreal took a gamble with Price and it paid off.  The Sabres have nothing to lose.  Give Levi the net.

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

It's crazy this kid doesn't get more hype.

• 34-2-1 with a .941 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA in his last junior season
• 6-1-0 with a .964 save percentage and a 0.75 GAA in the world juniors
• 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage and a 1.55 GAA in his 1st college season
• 20 shutouts in his last 68 games.

Numbers aren't everything and it is often easy to look past them, especially with goalies.

But look at those numbers. At three different levels.

Nobody does that. At any level

He doesn't play for a particularly good college team either. 

[Taro T]

Just now, dudacek said:

The play and the availability of Anderson and UPL down the stretch is really important to this summer's decision-making process.

Really hope that Anderson isn't in next year's plans unless it has a significant degree of expectations that he could very likely spend time in Ra-cha-cha (if he stays healthy but his plays slips in any appreciable manner, & possibly even if it doesn't) & that is because he is viewed as 1 part of the proverbial "3 headed monster" of NHL caliber goaltending.  Speaking of unicorns, maybe Levi is the 3rd head of that monster, but the more likely path is that a different NHLer is that 3rd guy.  

(UNLESS the plan is to still have a legit hat in the ring for next year's lottery, in which case that 3 headed monster could very well be a 4 headed one w/ Anderson & UPL up on day 1 & when 1 breaks a not quite ready for primetime Levi or Portillo get a shot.  Worst case scenario for those of us watching.  Then if Levi or Portillo surprise, Adams wins, and if neither does, Adams still wins but we lose.)

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, Eleven said:

Levi's numbers are better than Price's.  Montreal took a gamble with Price and it paid off.  The Sabres have nothing to lose.  Give Levi the net.

Price played in the AHL for the final 2 RS games & then the playoffs and took it by storm at the end of his 2nd post draft year.  Was at that RS Finale vs the Amerks & he was READY.  He still spent substantial time in Hamilton that next year but got into 40+ games for the Habs as well.

Would give Levi some time this year in Buffalo provided they can get him into enough Amerks games to see if he can do for the Amerks what Price did for the Bulldogs.  IF they truly have lightning in a bottle (& they might) then sure, plan to have Levi in Buffalo next year.  But still want a better plan than just "hope" heading into October.

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Price played in the AHL for the final 2 RS games & then the playoffs and took it by storm at the end of his 2nd post draft year.  Was at that RS Finale vs the Amerks & he was READY.  He still spent substantial time in Hamilton that next year but got into 40+ games for the Habs as well.

Would give Levi some time this year in Buffalo provided they can get him into enough Amerks games to see if he can do for the Amerks what Price did for the Bulldogs.  IF they truly have lightning in a bottle (& they might) then sure, plan to have Levi in Buffalo next year.  But still want a better plan than just "hope" heading into October.

Levi relies on his athletic ability and his extremely skilled tracking to be successful at his smaller size. The reflexes will be there, the question is how long does he take to adjust to speed and angles at the NHL level. 

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

Really hope that Anderson isn't in next year's plans unless it has a significant degree of expectations that he could very likely spend time in Ra-cha-cha (if he stays healthy but his plays slips in any appreciable manner, & possibly even if it doesn't) & that is because he is viewed as 1 part of the proverbial "3 headed monster" of NHL caliber goaltending.  Speaking of unicorns, maybe Levi is the 3rd head of that monster, but the more likely path is that a different NHLer is that 3rd guy.  

(UNLESS the plan is to still have a legit hat in the ring for next year's lottery, in which case that 3 headed monster could very well be a 4 headed one w/ Anderson & UPL up on day 1 & when 1 breaks a not quite ready for primetime Levi or Portillo get a shot.  Worst case scenario for those of us watching.  Then if Levi or Portillo surprise, Adams wins, and if neither does, Adams still wins but we lose.)

Whether we support it or not, we know Adams had no interest in investing term in a goalie last year and I assume that's in large part because he felt pretty strongly that his guy was already in house.

I doubt anything has happened this year to change his mind; Luukkonen looked like he might be ready in his brief look, Levi and Portillo still look promising. If nothing else changes in the next few months, Adams is going to sign/acquire a goalie on a short-term deal to platoon with UPL next year.

I want to see enough of UPL to show Adams whether or not UPL justifies that projection. Anderson's ability to stay healthy to finish the year is likely to influence whether he is in the running to be the other half of that projection. Where Levi fits is another element.

There's definitely still lots of runway here as to where he decides to go.

[Eleven]

53 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Price played in the AHL for the final 2 RS games & then the playoffs and took it by storm at the end of his 2nd post draft year.  Was at that RS Finale vs the Amerks & he was READY.  He still spent substantial time in Hamilton that next year but got into 40+ games for the Habs as well.

Would give Levi some time this year in Buffalo provided they can get him into enough Amerks games to see if he can do for the Amerks what Price did for the Bulldogs.  IF they truly have lightning in a bottle (& they might) then sure, plan to have Levi in Buffalo next year.  But still want a better plan than just "hope" heading into October.

I'm good w/ this.

[pi2000]

One of Levi or Portillo needs to stay in college next season, otherwise you have a logjam with UPL in the mix as well.

Conceivably they could split the net in Roch, while UPL gets his chance in Buffalo, but I'm not sure that's best for their development.

[Eleven]

10 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

One of Levi or Portillo needs to stay in college next season, otherwise you have a logjam with UPL in the mix as well.

Conceivably they could split the net in Roch, while UPL gets his chance in Buffalo, but I'm not sure that's best for their development.

Nah.  Portillo can go to Rochester.

[pi2000]

4 minutes ago, Eleven said:

Nah.  Portillo can go to Rochester.

Levi won't be NHL ready next season.   

Ok, let's say they give him a chance to start the season in Buffalo.   If he's not the day 1 starter, he needs to be in Roch... he needs to playing and playing a lot to acclimate to the pro game.     If Portillo is in Roch, they'll have to split the net... surethat creates competition, however it's not good for either player to be sitting at this stage of their development.    Would rather one (or both) return to college.